Google’s mobile network plans emerge

Google is said to be close launching its own mobile network plans in the US, according to a new report.

Back in November, it was claimed that Google had designs on becoming a network carrier – or at least a virtual one. Mobile virtual network operators (MVNOs) purchase network bandwidth from the major operators, and that’s precisely what Google is looking at.

Apparently, Project Nova will see Google’s MVNO service running on Sprint and T-Mobile’s networks over in the US, once terms have been agreed. Google will then offer low-cost voice call packages to customers.

It’s claimed that Google’s offering will have strong coverage, thanks to the use of multiple networks. It will also possibly undercut those very network offerings by using “communication apps” of come sort, though details are thin on the ground.

As The Verge notes, Google has become interested in providing internet services directly in recent years, with projects such as Google Fiber (high-speed fiber broadband) and Project Loon (internet balloons).

Providing a traditional mobile service seems quite tame by comparison, but it’s clear that Google is looking to take control of the way we connect to the internet – not just the software we use to achieve it.

As for Google’s mobile network plans outside of the US, we’ll probably have to wait and see how this domestic experiment goes.